There was a blood tie that bound mother and daughter now, and there was no way it could be severed at the drop of a hand.
Even Martin himself would have trouble letting Jean go-having that tiny person around him already made his life more colorful.
Zachary would certainly like to take his baby away, but he also was aware that it was impossible.
If he did, Lulu would hate him to the bone.
Moreover, what would the people around Martin and Lulu think of them? Their tranquil life would be in shambles!
In that sense, Zachary had been considerate toward them.
“I just wanted to see the baby, that’s all!” he growled through his teeth.
Martin lowered his gaze just then. “Lulu is a good person. Why didn’t you cherish her?”
Zachary slumped right then, his back arching as he rested his elbows on his knees.
Yes, he certainly did not-which was why he had been so stricken by regrets!
Still, he tried to make light of the moment and chuckled. “Well, you wouldn’t be as blissful as you are now if I didn’t mess up.”
“True.” Martin did not actually deny it.
Zachary pursed his lips. ‘No bragging, please. I’d get jealous.’
Martin smiled. “I would never, but…”
Turning toward the distance, he said, “I’m really happy now.’
Like him, Lulu liked this peaceful life and having the feeling of home.
Her parents were gone, so he was his only family now-how could he bear to give up everything they had now?
Half-joking and half-serious then, Martin said, “If you came to ruin things for me, I’ll make sure you have to crawl around to find your teeth.”
Zachary nodded. He was naturally self-aware enough to not challenge Martin. ‘I’m not dumb enough to fight you.”
Martin rose to his feet then. “It’s late now. Let’s go.’
“Where?” Zachary asked, looking up at him.
“To visit Jean, of course-you’re here, and that makes you a guest,” Martin said. “I’ll buy you a drink later.”
Zachary got up. “Sure.”
They returned to his car, and Martin drove Zachary to his home.
Neither spoke, but things were not awkward between them either.
It was probably rare for rivals to get along like this too!
Arriving at his home in New Kent, Martin had Zachary wait downstairs while he got Jean.
Lulu had been waiting, and she trusted Martin as much as she knew about Zachary’s impulsive nature.
She was worried that they would come to blows, so she had been sitting restlessly on the couch.
She quickly turned when she heard the door open and quickly approached
Martin when she saw him. “That was quick.”
Martin nodded and said, “He’s downstairs. Do you want to see him?”
Lulu stared at Martin. “Are you trying to test me?”
Martin tousled her hair. ’Don’t think of it like that. You can be friends even if you’re not into him now. There’s no need to treat him like the enemy since you made his acquaintance, refusing to meet him at all. I don’t mind it either-l trust you.”
Lulu pouted. “I know you do, but I don’t trust myself. Who knows, I might go with him if he starts to tempt me with sweet words…”
Martin suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ferociously.
He knew she was joking, but he was still very much afraid that she would leave him.
He held her so tightly as if to make them fuse together.
After a long while, Lulu said, “You should take Jean downstairs.”
She believed it impossible that people could stay friends after break-ups, since she disliked confronting the past.
Caressing Martin’s firm cheeks just then, she said, “I only need you in my life now.”
“You don’t want Jean?” Martin asked.
Lulu paused just then. “He wants Jean?”
Martin shook his head. “He just wants to see her.”
As Lulu wrapped her arms around his waist, “I used to think that Jean was just an accident and I didn’t want her, but as she slowly grew in me, I began to have expectations and affection for her… That’s how it feels to be a mother, I guess. I really can’t bear to part with her now!”
Martin certainly understood and said, “I’ll take her downstairs. Let’s not keep the man waiting.”
“Okay,” Lulu said and turned to carry Jean out of her crib.
Jean was asleep, and her little cheeks were bright red-she was still too young for anyone to tell who she took after, though it might be obvious once she was older.
As Lulu handed the baby to Martin, he asked again, “Are you really not coming?”
“Ask again, and I’m leaving with him.” Lulu shot him a glare.
Martin smiled. “Calm down-l’ll apologize properly when I come home later. H
Lulu simply pushed him out of the door and shut it behind him while Martin carried Jean downstairs.
When he saw Zachary, the man appeared uneasy and was pacing around, perhaps too nervous at the thought of seeing his baby.
He finally turned when Martin called out to him and stiffened when he saw the baby in Martin’s arms.
He gulped, as everything including his blood seemed to freeze just then, and his foot suddenly seemed to weigh a ton when he tried to walk.
Martin understood that Zachary was excited and flustered, and he walked over to pass Jean into Zachary’s arms, saying, “You can come again next time if you want.’
He seemed generous, but Zachary knew that he must never do it-Jean was too young to remember everything, so he would do it when she was older.
But how was he supposed to answer if Jean asked who he was?
He would be bringing problems to Martin and Lulu while causing confusion for Jean.
Even so, his eyes were red even as he held the baby, while Martin said,” Lulu had birth complications, and they had to perform a
C-section.”
He was in the operation room and being prepped for surgery-his fate hanging in the balance just then!
When he recovered, he heard from Johnny that Lulu went into premature labor because of that, vowing to die with him if he did, even refusing to give birth.
He was both emotional and heartbroken when he heard that.
She was such a good person, but Zachary did not seem to value that!
But it was also fortunate that thanks to that, Martin stood a chance! “She’s so adorable…” Zachary rasped as he lowered his gaze at the baby.
“Yes, she is,” Martin said.
He was watching Jean too, and he was certain she would grow up to be like Lulu-a woman of loyalty and sentiment.
Once she was willing to help a person, she would even be willing to put her life on the line.
How could someone like that not be loved?
“Well, I guess you’re just luckier than I am.” Zachary sighed as he handed Jean back to Martin then, since he could not carry
Jean off no matter how much he wanted.
Martin did not deny it.
After some thought, Zachary whipped out a debit card-financial support was about the only thing he could do for her now. “Here.
It’s for the little one.”
Martin did not reject it since it was for Jean and he had no right to decide for her.
He would keep it and give it to her when she was older, telling her that she had the freedom to choose.
Likewise, she had the right to know her real father, as well as the right to choose her life!
Zachary was actually impressed by Martin’s composure and generosity, and he decided that he had no qualms about losing.
“You said you were going to buy me a drink?” he asked just then.
If he did not drink a little, he would never douse the fiery envy in him!
With that, Martin carried Jean back upstairs, where Lulu was waiting.
Handing Jean over to Lulu, he said, “I’m sending him off.”
Lulu nodded.
Martin took Zachary to a cheap bar, asking, “Is this alright with you?”
After all, he had always been an average Joe and lived as such, never visiting any expensive joints.
Zachary shot him a look. “What’s wrong with this? You know I’m jealous of you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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